ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Page Count: 8

Cervical Airway Injuries as a Result of Impact with Steering Wheel Rim
Mittleman, RE
Associate medical examiner, Dade County Medical Examiner Department, FL

(Received 21 November 1987; accepted 7 December 1987)

Abstract

Motor vehicle occupants may suffer severe cervical airway injuries as the result of impaction with the steering wheel, dashboard, windshield, backseat, and seat belt. Although the steering column is well recognized as a general site of injury infliction, less attention has been directed to components which may be the actual focal point of contact, such as the steering wheel rim. Two cases of cervical airway injury as a result of impact with the steering wheel rim are presented, including one instance of complete laryngotracheal transection. Correlation of injury with crash and postcrash sequences as well as the damaged vehicle will often provide excellent crash injury reconstruction.

Keywords:
pathology and biology, injuries, automobiles, accidents

Paper ID: JFS12553J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS12553J
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